Reimagining Vineyards. Revitalizing Revenue. Reconnecting with Community.  For over 40 years, Allen Land Design has helped shape the beauty and function of Northern California’s iconic wine country. We’ve built bocce courts, tasting patios, and elegant garden  landscapes. But today, every winery has these—and still, many are struggling.  It’s time for something new.  Introducing: “Beyond the Vines” – A New Vision for Wine Country  We are partnering with forward-thinking wineries ready to transform unused or underperforming vineyard blocks (5–25 acres) into innovative, revenue-generating, and community-driven destinations.  Instead of competing with 5–7 tastings in a day, offer your guests a 2–3 hour immersive experience that blends agriculture, art, technology, food, and connection.  What’s Growing Next? (Hint: It’s not just grapes)  Before the grape boom, Sonoma and Napa counties grew:  • Grains (wheat, barley) – Perfect for

Adjust pH Naturally and Precisely with Oenodia STARS® Technology Traditional pH adjustment tools like tartaric acid and potassium carbonate often lack precision and can alter wine flavor, especially after fermentation. Oenodia’s STARS electrodialysis process is a smarter way to fine-tune pH, enhancing flavor, color, and SO₂ performance. Learn More Why Adjust Acidity? STABILITY  ENHANCE SO₂ EFFECTIVENESS  Sulfur dioxide is most effective within a specific pH range to protect wine from microbes and oxidation. When pH>3.65, its effectiveness drops, requiring higher free SO₂ levels. Lowering pH helps maintain wine stability with less intervention.  SENSORY  ADJUST FLAVOR AND COLOR  pH plays a key role in a wine’s sensory profile and visual appeal. A lower pH can sharpen flavor balance, reduce flabbiness, and enhance freshness. pH also influences color, especially in reds and rosés. pH adjustment is a natural way to shift color. FLEXIBL

We proudly announced the recipients of the inaugural WISE Rising Stars Scholarships during a live presentation at the DTC Wine Symposium last week, celebrating the next generation of DTC wine industry leaders in front of more than 500 winery professionals. As one of the event’s original sponsors, WISE continues to invest in the Symposium’s mission of education, collaboration, and forward‑thinking leadership. The Rising Stars Scholarships extend that commitment—supporting people, developing leadership, and strengthening the DTC community across the industry. The Rising Stars Scholarships received an overwhelming response from across the country. The strength of applications prompted Commerce7 to step in and match one of the scholarships, allowing WISE to expand the program and support additional recipients. Join us as we raise a glass towards this year's recipients! Kelsey Gomes is the DTC Marketing Manager at Lange Twins Family Winery & Vineyards. Upon re

Adjust pH Naturally and Precisely with Oenodia STARS® Technology Traditional pH adjustment tools like tartaric acid and potassium carbonate often lack precision and can alter wine flavor, especially after fermentation. Oenodia’s STARS electrodialysis process is a smarter way to fine-tune pH, enhancing flavor, color, and SO₂ performance. Why Adjust Acidity? Stability: Enhance SO₂ Effectiveness Sulfur dioxide is most effective within a specific pH range to protect wine from microbial contamination and oxidation. When pH>3.65, its effectiveness drops, requiring higher free SO₂ levels. Lowering pH helps maintain wine stability with less intervention. Sensory Adjust Flavor and Color pH plays a key role in a wine’s sensory profile and visual appeal. A lower pH can sharpen flavor balance, reduce flabbiness, and enhance freshness. pH also influences color, especially in reds and rosés. pH adjustment is a natural way to shift color. SHIFT pH ± 0.05 - 0.5 WITH PR

For years, discounting has been the default lever wineries pull to spark sales and reward loyal customers. But in today’s crowded marketplace, deep discounts can erode brand value and condition customers to buy only when the price drops. There’s a better way: loyalty points programs. Retention, without discounting, comes from making customers feel known, valued, and part of something special. They’ll stay not because it’s cheaper, but because it’s theirs. Instead of discounting away margin, wineries can encourage repeat visits and purchases by offering rewards that feel aspirational, personalized, and memorable. Loyalty points add up over time, giving guests a reason to come back again and again, all the while protecting your brand’s premium image. 10 Reasons Why Loyalty Points Work Shift from price to experience. Points reward frequency and engagement, not bargain hunting. The program should reinforce experience, access, and emotional loyalty, not

Turning Summer Visitors into Long-Term Customers How to make sure they come for the pour and stay for the story Summer is finally here, and tasting rooms are buzzing with sunhats, selfie sticks, and road-trippers on the hunt for their next favorite wine. The influx is real: tasting room visitation peaks between May and September, with over 45% of annual winery visitors arriving in Q2 and Q3, according to data from the Silicon Valley Bank State of the Wine Industry Report. But here’s the challenge: for many of these guests, the experience ends with the last pour. One weekend, one flight, one forgotten name. So how do you turn that quick hello into a lasting relationship? The secret isn’t more marketing noise—it’s thoughtful connection. Think of your summer surge as the top of a funnel. If you treat each guest like a one-time transaction, you’re throwing away the most valuable part of that funnel: the chance to turn casual tasters into year-round customers

Immersive Camps Provides An All-Access Pass to Wine Country Sonoma County Winegrowers has just announced it is bringing back one of its most popular programs this fall when Grape Camp returns. This three-day immersion in all thing’s agriculture, wine and food in Sonoma County is an experience of a lifetime. From vineyard immersions led by growers to sommelier-led wine tastings to unforgettable farm to table gatherings, the camp allows participants to learn first-hand why Sonoma County is a wine and food mecca. “Grape Camp is much loved by past campers because it is true wine country immersion! The best part is getting to meet so many of our local family farmers and winemakers,” said Karissa Kruse, president and chief executive officer of the Sonoma County Winegrowers. She added, “We took a few years off, but we regularly received inquiries asking if Grape Camp was going to return, so we are thrilled to bring back this ‘bucket list’ experience for wi

Online reviews aren’t fluff. They’re not nice-to-haves, and they shouldn’t be afterthoughts. They are critical, high-impact marketing assets that shape consumer perception, affect your search rankings, and—let’s be honest—determine whether or not someone walks through your tasting room door. You don’t need hundreds of reviews overnight, and you definitely don’t need to beg for them. What you need is a plan. Here’s how to approach winery reviews strategically—and professionally. Why Reviews Matter So Much Online reviews are today’s word of mouth but with a larger megaphone. They don’t just impact reputation—they influence your visibility, credibility, and revenue. The key platforms are: Google: This is the baseline. You’re losing ground in local SEO if you’re not actively managing your Google reviews. More reviews = better ranking = more foot traffic. Yelp: High purchase intent lives here. 80% of

The 2025 Barrel Weekend is all about tasting wines from the past, present and future. This annual weekend event has been reimagined for its 47th anniversary, letting the wineries along the Wine Road focus on more than just tasting wines from the barrel. And, giving tasters new opportunities for exploring and learning about wine. More Tasting Options With wineries pouring wines from past (library wines), present (current release wines) and future (barrel samples), attendees have more choices and can choose what they most enjoy or what they seeking to restock their wine cellars. As you look through the online Barrel Weekend program, you’ll discover wineries pouring wines from one, two or all three of the category options. This information lets you, the ticket holder, design the tasting path that suits your palate preferences. If you love tasting only barrel samples and possibly buying wine futures, you can still do that. But, if you prefer to taste wines that are currently availabl

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for flowers and chocolates—it’s also a prime opportunity for wineries to boost sales, attract new customers, and strengthen existing relationships. This holiday of love lends itself perfectly to creative marketing initiatives that showcase wine as the ultimate romantic gift or experience. Here’s how wineries can make the most of Valentine’s Day.  1. Embrace Online Sales with a Valentine's Day Theme Ensure your website is ready to entice Valentine’s shoppers. Update your homepage with romantic visuals and feature special offers prominently. Simplify navigation to make shopping easy, especially for those making last-minute purchases. Incorporate Valentine’s Day-themed SEO keywords to improve search visibility and draw in gift-seekers. Don’t forget to clearly display shipping deadlines and offer expedited options to capture late buyers. Tip: Use Corksy’s personalization tools to create pop-ups